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Vikes back on track with pair of winsThe North Branch boys basketball team is back on track after a pair of wins last week. The Vikings earned a 56-45 win over Forest Lake Jan. 6 and went on to defeat Rum River Conference foe Milaca 71-67 Jan. 9. Against Forest Lake, the Vikes were outscored 16-14 in the first quarter. North Branch came out recharged in the third quarter and hit 4 three-pointers to open the scoring in the half and take a commanding 15-point lead. The Vikes went on to score 21 points in the third quarter and added another 6 in the fourth for the 56-45 win. ìWe played a really controlled game on both ends of the floor,î Head Coach Bill Baumann said. ìWe only had three turnovers for the game and we forced 13 with our defense. We shot the ball pretty well and were patient running our offense.î Baumann was pleased with how well the team closed out the end of the game. ìWe basically ran off the last two minutes and made free throws when we had to,î he said. Senior Matt Fletcher led the offense with 20 points, followed by seniors Matt Nelson and Jake Anderson, each with 12. Fletcher also led with 6 rebounds. The Vikings went on to use a 24-point second quarter on the way to a 71-67 win over Milaca last Friday. The first quarter ended with the Wolves holding the 19-18 edge, but the Vikes came back and outscored Milaca in the second, higlighted by 4 three-pointers for the 42-35 lead at the half. The Wolves narrowed the gap and tied the game at 51-51 by the end of the third quarter. ìMilaca was giving us the outside shot in the first half, but in the second half they decided to take away our three's so we went inside a lot more and were very successful,î Baumann said. ìMilaca really came out to play and it is something we have to be ready for every night.î The Vikes sealed the win with 20 points in the fourth quarter. Five Vikings were in double figures in the game ñ Fletcher had 18 points, Baumann had 13, Anderson and senior Bowie McClaskie had 11 apiece and Nelson added 10. ìIt was great to get five players in double figures and Tony Beaver chipped in six,î Baumann said. ìBen Stenberg is doing the little things inside and on the defensive end that is making us successful.î The Vikes are now 8-3 on the season and 4-0 in the conference. This week, the team was scheduled to host Pine City Tuesday and will travel to St. Michael-Albertville Friday. ©ECM Post Review |